The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards longlist has been announced — and Netflix fans might be surprised about one big absence

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You're still Golden to me, Kpop Demon Hunters

A collage of Rumi and Mira from Kpop Demon Hunters, and Oscar Isaac in Frankenstein
One of Netflix's biggest movies hasn't been nominated for this year's BAFTAs (Image credit: Netflix)
  • The 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards longlist has been revealed
  • One Battle After Another leads the way with 16 initial nominations
  • There's one glaring omission from this year's longlist

The 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards longlist has been revealed. And, in news that will shock fans, Kpop Demon Hunters hasn't received a single nomination – but there's a key reason why it was ineligible.

Netflix's pop-culture phenomenon, which was one of the most talked-about movies of 2025, has been overlooked entirely by the British Film Academy. The wildly popular animated musical – it's been viewed over 325 million times since it debuted on one of the world's best streaming service – isn't up for consideration in notable categories including 'Children's and Family Film', 'Animated Film', and 'Original Score'.

Considering that Kpop Demon Hunters is the most-watched Netflix original movie of all-time and dominated the film news cycle in the latter half of 2025, fans will be absolutely staggered that it hasn't made this year's BAFTAs longlist.

There is a valid reason, though, why the Sony Pictures Animation flick was ruled out of contention.

Per Deadline, Kpop Demon Hunters didn't qualify because it failed to meet the British Film Academy's strict criteria. Indeed, according to the BAFTA rulebook, films must have "at least 10 commercial screenings in the UK for at least seven days in aggregate."

Fictional KPop band Huntr/x prepare for battle in KPop Demon Hunters

Put your weapons down, HUNTR/X... (Image credit: Netflix)

Kpop Demon Hunters was released in UK cinemas after it blew up on Netflix – the powerhouse flick landing in 264 theaters on the weekend of August 23/24, and then 568 more last Halloween.

However, despite Netflix's attempts to secure an exemption under the ruling that "a film which has been available to the UK public through other patterns or forms of distribution (e.g. event cinema) may be considered for entry", BAFTA's Film Committee rejected the streaming giant's request. The committee also threw out Netflix's subsequent appeal, too.

Deadline added that, if Kpop Demon Hunters had been given a day-and-date release – i.e., it had been simultaneously released in theaters and on Netflix on launch day – it would have been eligible. As it stands, though, one of the 33 best movies of 2025 will be sitting on the sidelines as its peers compete for this year's prizes.

What movies are part of the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards longlist?

Leonardo DiCaprio's Bob wielding a rifle in One Battle After Another

Leonardo DiCaprio's latest feature has received 16 initial BAFTA 2026 nominations (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Kpop Demon Hunters' omisson notwithstanding, plenty of other critically acclaimed, money-spinning, and fan-favorite films have made it onto this year's longlist.

Leading the charge is One Battle After Another, the Paul Thomas Anderson-directed action thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio, which has been nominated in 16 categories. Hamnet and Sinners follow close behind with 14 nominations apiece, while Marty Supreme has landed 13, and Bugonia and Frankenstein each chalked up 12.

It would be remiss of me to point out that this isn't the official nominees list. A second round of voting, which will whittle down the aforementioned list to the final contenders, will now run from today (January 9) to January 20. The official nominations list will be announced on January 27 before the actual ceremony takes place on February 6.

In the meantime, here's the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards longlist in full:

Best Film

  • The Ballad of Wallis Island
  • Bugonia
  • Frankenstein
  • Hamnet
  • I Swear
  • Marty Supreme
  • Nuremberg
  • One Battle After Another
  • Sentimental Value
  • Sinners

Outstanding British Film

  • 28 Years Later
  • Ballad of a Small Player
  • The Ballad of Wallis Island
  • Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
  • The Choral
  • Die My Love
  • Goodbye June
  • H is for Hawk
  • Hamnet
  • I Swear
  • Mr Burton
  • Pillion
  • The Roses
  • Steve
  • Warfare

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer

  • The Ceremony
  • The Man in My Basement
  • Mother Vera
  • My Father’s Shadow
  • Pillion
  • Ocean With David Attenborough
  • The Shadow Scholars
  • Urchin
  • A Want In Her
  • Wasteman

Children's and Family Film

  • Arco
  • Boong
  • Elio
  • Grow
  • How to Train Your Dragon
  • Lilo & Stitch
  • Little Amelie
  • Zootropolis 2

Film Not in the English Language

  • It Was Just an Accident
  • La Grazia
  • Left-Handed Girl
  • No Other Choice
  • Nouvelle Vague
  • Rental Family
  • The Secret Agent
  • Sentimental Value
  • Sirât
  • The Voice of Hind Rajab

Documentary

  • 2000 Meters To Andriivka
  • Apocalypse In The Tropics
  • Becoming Led Zeppelin
  • Cover-Up
  • The Librarians
  • Mr Nobody Against Putin
  • Ocean With David Attenborough
  • One to One: John &Yoko
  • The Perfect Neighbor
  • Riefenstahl

Animated Film

  • Arco
  • The Bad Guys 2
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
  • Elio
  • Little Amelie
  • Zootropolis 2

Director

  • A House of Dynamite (Kathryn Bigelow)
  • Bugonia (Yorgos Lanthimos)
  • Die My Love (Lynne Ramsay)
  • Hamnet (Chloé Zhao)
  • Marty Supreme (Josh Safdie)
  • One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson)
  • Rental Family (Hikari)
  • Sentimental Value (Joachim Trier)
  • Sinners (Ryan Coogler)
  • The Voice of Hind Rajab (Kaouther Ben Hania)

Original Screenplay

  • A House of Dynamite
  • Blue Moon
  • I Swear
  • Is This Thing On?
  • It Was Just an Accident
  • Marty Supreme
  • The Secret Agent
  • Sentimental Value
  • Sinners
  • Weapons

Adapted Screenplay

  • 28 Years Later
  • The Ballad of Wallis Island
  • Bugonia
  • Frankenstein
  • Hamnet
  • Nuremberg
  • One Battle After Another
  • Pillion
  • Train Dreams
  • Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Leading Actress

  • Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
  • Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
  • Cynthia Erivo, Wicked: For Good
  • Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue
  • Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another
  • Jennifer Lawrence, Die My Love
  • Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value
  • Andrea Riseborough, Dragonfly
  • Emma Stone, Bugonia
  • Tessa Thompson, Hedda

Leading Actor

  • Robert Aramayo, I Swear
  • Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme
  • Russell Crowe, Nuremberg
  • Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another
  • Joel Edgerton, Train Dreams
  • Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon
  • Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
  • Harry Melling, Pillion
  • Cillian Murphy, Steve
  • Jesse Plemons, Bugonia

Supporting Actress

  • Odessa A’zion, Marty Supreme
  • Brenda Blethyn, Dragonfly
  • Ariana Grande, Wicked: For Good
  • Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
  • Amy Madigan, Weapons
  • Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
  • Carey Mulligan, The Ballad of Wallis Island
  • Gwyneth Paltrow, Marty Supreme
  • Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another
  • Emily Watson, Hamnet

Supporting Actor

  • Benicio Del Toro, One Battle After Another
  • Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
  • Delroy Lindo, Sinners
  • Paul Mescal, Hamnet
  • Peter Mullan, I Swear
  • Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
  • Adam Sandler, Jay Kelly
  • Andrew Scott, Blue Moon
  • Alexander Skarsgård, Pillion
  • Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value

Casting

  • Frankenstein
  • Hamnet
  • A House of Dynamite
  • I Swear
  • Marty Supreme
  • One Battle After Another
  • Pillion
  • Sentimental Value
  • Sinners
  • Sirât

Cinematrography

  • Ballad of a Small Player
  • Bugonia
  • Die My Love
  • F1
  • Frankenstein
  • Hamnet
  • Marty Supreme
  • One Battle After Another
  • Sinners
  • Train Dreams

Costume Design

  • Bugonia
  • Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
  • Frankenstein
  • Hamnet
  • Marty Supreme
  • Nouvelle Vague
  • Nuremberg
  • One Battle After Another
  • Sinners

Editing

  • 28 Years Later
  • Bugonia
  • F1
  • Frankenstein
  • Hamnet
  • A House of Dynamite
  • Marty Supreme
  • One Battle After Another
  • Sinners
  • Weapons

Makeup and Hair

  • Bugonia
  • Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
  • Frankenstein
  • Hamnet
  • Marty Supreme
  • Nuremberg
  • One Battle After Another
  • Sinners
  • The Smashing Machine
  • Wicked: For Good

Original Score

  • 28 Years Later
  • The Ballad of Wallis Island
  • Bugonia
  • Frankenstein
  • Hamnet
  • Marty Supreme
  • Nuremberg
  • One Battle After Another
  • Sinners
  • Wicked: For Good

Production Design

  • Ballad of a Small Player
  • Bugonia
  • The Fantastic Four: First Steps
  • Frankenstein
  • Hamnet
  • Marty Supreme
  • Mickey 17
  • One Battle After Another
  • Sinners
  • Wicked: For Good

Special Visual Effects

  • Avatar: Fire and Ash
  • F1
  • Frankenstein
  • How to Train Your Dragon
  • Jurassic World Rebirth
  • The Lost Bus
  • Mickey 17
  • Superman
  • Tron: Ares
  • Wicked: For Good

Sound

  • Avatar: Fire and Ash
  • Bugonia
  • F1
  • Frankenstein
  • The Lost Bus
  • Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
  • One Battle After Another
  • Sinners
  • Warfare
  • Wicked: For Good

British Short Animation

  • Brain Space
  • Cardboard
  • Death’s Peak
  • Ovary-Acting
  • Solstice
  • Two Black Boys in Paradise

British Short Film

  • 22+1
  • Blondi
  • Magid / Zafar
  • Neil Armstrong and the Langholmites
  • Nostalgie
  • The Pearl Comb
  • Terence
  • This Is Endometriosis
  • Welcome Home Freckles
  • Wonderwall

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Tom Power
Senior Entertainment Reporter

As TechRadar's senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You'll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.


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